(Published in The Press Democrat, "Let the Public Speak," Nov 11, 1996, Santa Rosa, California)
Are we all--politicians and voters--as self-serving as columnist Mike Barnicle says? On the No. 6 Forum page, Barnicle comments: "We would rather have full employment than exemplary behavior in the Oval Office" which is "in keeping with our latest national motto: What about me?"
The '96 campaigns and elections about which Barnicle writes, "... more people vote with their wallets than their hearts" do seem to demonstrate a flood of me-ism deluging our nation.
World politics don't offer much hope. Corruption and scandal flood all corners from Pakistan to Belgium to Central America to Asia.
But I turn to the source of all stability and hope and I read, "The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to His people. May the Lord bless His people with peace (Psalm 29:10 and 11).
Political conditions don't change the absolutes of a loving, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present God who is also Lord over human history, waiting for the people He has created to acknowledge Him.
We won't find perfect, sinless leaders. But we can pray for leaders who will acknowledge their need for God's guidance and demonstrate a commitment to standing above the fickle floods of image perception and empty promises and instead to do what is right.
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Copyright © 1996, 2006, Catherine Lawton